Rock County deputies injured when squad cars collide

TOWN OF MILTON—Two Rock County deputies injured when their squad cars collided Wednesday night were treated and released from the hospital.

Deputy Christopher Krahn was the first to arrive at the Highway 26 bypass near County N at about 11 p.m. after receiving a report of a motorcycle on the side of the road and a man lying in the road, Capt. Jude Maurer said.

Krahn was driving north on Highway 26 with lights and siren, was slowing his squad car and changing lanes to pull over when Deputy Niles Boeche arrived in his squad car with lights and siren. Boeche swerved to avoid rear-ending Krahn's squad but sideswiped its passenger side before veering off the road and into the ditch, Maurer said.

The driver's side door of Boeche's squad would not open because of minor damage and had to be pried open by Milton firefighters.

Boeche was taken to Mercy Hospital and Trauma Center, Janesville, where he was treated for a head injury and released, Maurer said.

Krahn later went on his own to the hospital for treatment of a back injury and was treated released, but Maurer didn't know which medical facility provided treatment.

Neither deputy will be cited, said Wisconsin State Patrol Trooper Dustin Johanning, who investigated the crash.

The squad cars were being appraised for damage and will not be usable until repaired, Maurer said.

The county's insurance company will decide if the squads are total losses or if they can be repaired.

The operator of the motorcycle was not hurt. He was having issues with his motorcycle, parked it along the road and lay down to rest, but a passerby thought there was a problem and called police, Maurer said.